With His disciples listening intently, Jesus told them the purpose of His coming to earth and the essence of His ministry. Mark recorded Jesus’ words this way:

For the Son of Man has not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many (Mark 10:45).

The title of the “Son of Man” occurs in both the Old and New Testaments. The Prophet Ezekiel uses the term throughout his prophecy, and Daniel refers to one like “the Son of Man” receiving an everlasting kingdom (Daniel 7:13). And in the gospels, Jesus referred to Himself as “the Son of Man” over 20 times. What does this designation mean?

When Jesus referred to Himself as the “Son of Man,” He was pointing to both his humanity as well as to His deity, that is, the one who receives authority and an everlasting kingdom. This does not take away from the many times He referred to Himself as the “Son of God,” as we know that He was both the “Son of Man” as well as the “Son of God.”

This passage brings together the two central themes of Jesus’ mission while on earth: 1) He came to “serve” others, and 2) He came to give His life as a “ransom” for many.

If you have read one or more of the gospels, you are undoubtedly aware that Jesus was constantly challenging His disciples to understand the meaning of true greatness, and it wasn’t found in sitting at places of honor at banquets! True greatness was not to be found in positions of prominence according to the world’s standards, but according to a different standard of measure, that is, from the standard of greatness in the “Kingdom of God.” And that place of greatness is not a place of “prominence,” but a place of “service.”  

Secondly, the word “ransom” refers to a price that secures someone’s release from bondage. Jesus and the New Testament writers used this image to explain His death as a sacrificial act that brought freedom to all those who acknowledged that He not only died for the world, but also for them personally. And so, Jesus’ service goes far beyond teaching and healing as it culminated in the giving His own life for mankind.

It is likely that Jesus’ reference to “many” is connected with Isaiah 53:11, where the suffering servant bears the sins of “many.” We call this the “vicarious atonement,” that is, Jesus died to “ransom” us from the penalty and power of sin, something that we could not do for ourselves. When Jesus used the term “many,” He was referring to the fact that although His ransom is available for all, it is only the “many” who will receive its benefits.

I love this verse because it presents Jesus as both the model of service for all of us, as well as the only source of redemption. You and I can imitate His humility and generosity, but His redemptive mission is reserved only for Jesus. This verse challenges all of us to replace our desire for status with a desire to use our gifts and resources in service for others. Jesus’ ransom is available for all of us to receive, and if you haven’t yet done so, it is never too late to acknowledge your need for Him and the redemption He provides. Just ask Him to “redeem” you. You will never regret that decision.

Sincerely, Jim Price